Does IntraUterine Insemination Make Sense When There Isn't a Sperm Count Problem?

Doctors commonly use intrauterine insemination (IUI) when the male partner has a low sperm count or if the movement of sperm is less than ideal. By depositing sperm directly into the uterus, IUI allows more sperm to reach the crucial site of fertilization, bypassing the cervix and shortening the journey into the fallopian tubes. This is not, however, the only use of IUI.

Does IUI make sense when there isn't a sperm problem?

If there isn't a sperm count problem, IUI may still make perfect sense. In addition to helping couples with a a sperm count problem, your doctor may also use IUI to effectively in treat a number of male and female infertility problems, including:

Erectile dysfunction or problems ejaculating, as is the case with retrograde ejaculation where the sperm is released backward into the bladder.

An abnormal urethral opening.

On the female side, IUI is useful when the sperm can't get past the cervix because of some kind of obstruction, such as scarring on the cervix, perhaps from a past surgical procedure.

Irregular ovulation. If you're taking medication to make you produce more eggs, IUI may be a better option than intercourse.

Third party reproduction and sperm cryopreservation also require the use of IUI.

Sperm by the numbers: What if your sperm count is too low?

While different laboratories may establish their own "normal" range, a sperm count of 20 to 150 million sperm per milliliter of ejaculate is generally considered normal. Some studies suggest that the average sperm count may be declining, but it's still the subject of scientific debate.

While IUI is a first-line of treatment for low sperm count, one large study determined that a sperm count of 10 million motile sperm or more is needed for IUI to make more economic sense than in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Similarly, another study of more than 1,000 IUI cycles found that a sperm count of less than 10 million significantly lowered chances of pregnancy.